Nightclub responds to complaints after blackface controversy

Fame Nightclub Winnipeg responded Monday afternoon to complaints after a photo of awoman inblackface surfaced on the nightclub's website recently.

"Weunderstand thatthere is concern regarding a Bob Marley costume from Halloween that was posted on Fame's photo album," reads a written statement sent to CBC Manitobafrom a Fame spokesperson.

"We immediately took action and removed the photo as we value our patrons opinions. That was at10:30 a.m. Saturdaymorning."

According to Fame staff, despite removing the photo from its website, the photo was circulated on socialmediaSaturday afternoon.

One comment that Fame saysaccompaniedthe photo on Facebookread "[Fame Nightclub is] racist, run by whitesupremists [sic], unsafe and pretended to support the community."

That comment was reported and soon deleted by Facebook officials.

Fame then contacted Facebook and asked them to remove the photo from the pages of those continuing tocirculate it. They received the following response:

"We reviewed the photo you reported for harassment and found it doesn't violate our Community Standards."

Photo sparks debate in queer community

Members of several LGBTQ groupsincluding Queerview, the Dyke March, and Queer People of ColourmetSunday to determine how best to address the incident.

Although theclub promptlyremoved the photo,the group alsowants an apology.

"I was upset that this had happened at Fame somewhere which is supposed to be safe for queer people," said SaneDube.

"Itwas really surprising because I know every year leading up toHalloweenyou'll see so many campaigns about what is appropriate to wear toHalloween, what is not appropriate to wear toHalloween, why it is not appropriate ... so it was really shocking that this was something that was on Fame's website."

Queer People of Colour formed in May.The group's goal is to educate people about the challenges queer people of differentethnicitiesface.

On Sundaythey came together to discuss ways to make Winnipeg clubs more safe and inclusive forLGBTQpeople of differentethnicities.

"Being queer you already have your own issues that you are confronting the world with," saidDube. "Being a queer person of colour you also are dealing with issues of racism."

The group questions whether Fame should have allowed a person inblackfaceto enter the club.

'History of blackface steeped in racism'

"The history of blackface is steeped in racism," said Joan Johnson, who describes herself as a queer black woman. "It was to mimic or act out stereotypes of black people."

Johnson wrote the club when she saw the picture.She told themblackfaceis not a costume. "I was quite offended to see that the club would actually take the picture, actually post it to public media."

Johnson said the club responded immediately but described the response as "lacking."

"You took the picture, you posted it, this person was in your club for the night and it's notOK.And where is the accountability of the business and the club?" Johnson asked."How is this a safe space for someone like me?"

The group says it would like to have a dialogue with Fame to discuss the issue and ask it to reconsider its door policy at costume-themed events.

Johnson said an apology from Fame would help.

"I was looking for some sort of acknowledgement to the fact that this is racist.Acknowledgement that, 'Yes, we made a mistake because we are human.We feel deeply sorry that this has happened and that this has gone out.And that better judgment should have been used.'"

On itsFacebookpage Fame states that 990 people attended theHalloweenevent and "not one patron voiced concern over this being offensive."